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Mica Matysiewski Hanchey is one of our ARMA Houston members and you may have known her for several years, but I bet there are some very interesting things you do not know about her. And why am I referring to her as M&M&M? You will find out as you read on.

Obviously the first M stands for Mica who grew up in the Spring Branch area of Houston. She graduated from Spring Woods High School in 1973. During her senior year, she began working as a Vocational Office Education student in records management at Texas Petroleum. Mica recalls, “Giesela Robinson and Betty Backus were outstanding teachers back in the pre-computer days with microfilm, 1819 Smead like-em stick-em and chaindex. I attended the University of Houston and North Harris College taking classes with Sharon Miller, another outstanding mentor. I lived it and still can’t remember what it was like before personal computers. You can complete 10 times the amount of work with a computer and scanner. No need for labels!”It was not long afterwards in 1977 that Mica joined the ARMA. It was not long after joining ARMA that many people, myself included, stumbled pronouncing Mica’s last name and thus she got the nickname of Maty, the 2nd M. Yes, she has been a member for 32 years and remembers “Way back in the day when you had to be a professional to join ARMA --- an analyst or above. Everyone wanted to be a member, but most of us had to wait. It was an honor and a professional privilege to be a member—still is today.”

She like so many of us likes the people. “Gayle Page helped me through my socially challenging period of life and continues to this day keeping me in check. Paul Scott taught me about honey bees giving me my first beehive. Jim Dixon and Brenda Clements were there when I got my tattoo. A lot of the members of the ARMA Houston Chapter attended our wedding at the little Polish church in Blalock. We still talk about it. The people I’ve met in this business will always be part of my life.”

“My easiest year was as President of the ARMA Houston Chapter in 1999 when the International Conference was in Houston. The Board members were incredible that year. I can’t decide which was the most challenging: Secretary or Vice President Education and Outreach. It seems you figure out what’s going on around January and it’s over by June.” Mica started her own company, Document Management Group, in 1991 when her son Nic was born. “His dad, Chris Matysiewski, and I met on a litigation support project in Jackson, Michigan.

It’s funny what kids pick up especially when their parents and grand parents are in records management. My mother, Betty Pierson Hanchey, runs the DMG Austin project. The idea of my son working in the industry and enjoying it just baffles my mind. He is such a natural and it gives me such joy.When he is ready to take over the business, I’ll move to the country to grow olives, vegetables, herbs, and eggs.” Therefore, Mica is a proud Mom—the 3rd M.

“My companion, Chance, a little cocker spaniel, will chase whatever gets close, including her housemates, Chase and Brooklyn.” Mica’s favorite hobby is natural gardening. “I recently became a National Wildlife Federation Habitat Steward through a series of classes offered by the city of Austin. Anyone interested in certifying their yards as a “Wild Life Habitat” can contact me. There are four requirements: food, water, cover, and places to raise their young. For more information, go to www.nwf.org/bwh.

I am currently taking classes for Urban Forest Stewardship. I now have my own Hard Hat. I’ll get my clippers and saw in the next couple of months. I created Dragonfly Farms between Sealy and Bellville in 1997 about an hour from Houston. I found out that there is something that can grow in sugar sand—the worst soil possible: olive trees! If all goes according to plan, you should see Dragonfly Farms Olive Oil in six to ten years.”

There is always lots of fun stuff to talk about so the next time you see Mica, Maty, or Mom, don’t pass up an interesting conversation!